Is there “anything else” you need to hear about Rob Ford? Well, yes, there is.

Whitehorse recorded “Boss Man” in July, 2013 in response to the polarizing and questionable behaviour of Rob Ford in his time as mayor (conflict of interest, bike lanes, racial slurs, etc.), culminating in the Gawker and Toronto Star’s breaking story about the crack video. Who would have guessed, months later, they’d be releasing the song into today’s media maelstrom.

“18th of December” is a song about the high price to pay for following one’s heart, and accepting the consequences of one’s choices. The song taps in to the archetypical restlessness associated with the rambling, roaming life of a musician.

On its surface, the video is a Bonnie & Clyde type bender through the small-towns of Western Canada, shot mainly in a town of 250 people, Mortlach, SK. The Deep Dark Woods are seen playing against type – the usually unassuming musicians transform into a wild, gun-slinging band of outlaws, hunting down two young lovebirds on a crime spree.

More than this, the video suggests that life for a touring musician can turn you into something of a runaway, stealing moments of peace and beauty in the midst of relentless pressures, schedules and dreams.

LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA……LOVE AT THE END OF AN ERA. The Strumbellas reveal their unique personalities in their brand new EPK, sharing stories about songwriting, the new album, their dynamic friendships and some key pronunciation debates. The EPK features End of an Era, a new track from their forthcoming sophomore release, We Still Move On Dance Floors, out in Canada on October 22nd on yours truly, Six Shooter Records. See the new EPK here:

Southern Souls took the band to an antique store in Toronto’s west end to record an acoustic performance of “Red, Red Rose,” amidst the collectibles. As described by Paste Magazine, the tune “sounds like a forgotten song by The Band that is grounded by a wonky, off-kilter rhythm section that recalls Levon Helm and Rick Danko at their carefree best.” See “Red, Red Rose” below:

The Deep Dark Woods’ moniker tells you exactly what you need to know about their musical identity. Mysterious, rustic, gothic and meditative, The Deep Dark Woods make music that stirs an elemental, perhaps even subconscious sense of cabin fever in us all. The Deep Dark Woods write songs that ramble, jangle and roll through folk, roots and rock traditions with self-assured ease, like a train that travels through the night with its own rugged precision.

The Deep Dark Woods’ follow-up to The Place I Left Behind is an adventurous, fluid record that showcases the band’s strongest songwriting to date and celebration of the band’s sense of community and friendship. Jubilee straddles the opposing forces of nostalgia and evolution in its fusion of traditional foundations with neo-psychedelic flourishes.

Exclaim notes the new elements that shape Jubilee, such as the “swaths of fuzz” and “nocturnal atmospheres,” which bring more electric dimensions to the band’s signature folk-rock sound.

THE DEEP DARK SECRETS VIDEO TRIVIA.

How well do you know The Deep Dark Woods? A new video trivia game reveals personal idiosyncrasies about each band member, from lead singer Ryan Boldt’s most prized piece of Oilers memorabilia to Chris Mason’s bold crokinole challenge to fans. The only question that remains unanswered is: What became of the matching vintage brown suits?

Take the “Deep Dark Secrets” quiz here :

Jubilee will be released on October 1, 2013 by Six Shooter Records (Canada),
and on September 30, 2013 on Sugar Hill Records (US, Europe and beyond).

Six Shooter Records loves songwriters. The label is the proud home to artists who brave the darkness alone, who offer haunting artifacts of their solitary takes on life’s big ideas and minute details. Alberta singer-songwriter Joe Nolan now joins the likes of Martin Tielli, Amelia Curran and others on Six Shooter’s roster as an artist who mines the melancholic and mournful.

Joe Nolan is a rising star on the roots/folk scene. His debut, self-released album Goodbye Cinderella, netted a Canadian Folk Music Award for Best/New Emerging Artist in 2011. The album showcased his vapourous, shivering vocals and wise-beyond-his-years lyrical insight, introduced Joe’s graceful yet commanding presence.

The man of “cigarettes and sad songs” (Edmonton Journal) went to Nashville for the follow-up recording, and worked with ex-pat producer Colin Linden. The result, an album titled Tornado, will be released in January, 2014 on Six Shooter Records. Watch an album preview here:

Joe returns to Music City to perform at the Americana Music Conference and Festival, then it’s back to Calgary for multiple Breakout West shows and over to Scandinavia for tour dates in Sweden and Norway. 2014 Canadian album release tour dates will be announced later this fall.